Category: NRHA

USDA Rural Hospital Technical Assistance

February 18, 2025

USDA Rural Hospital Technical Assistance

Through a cooperative agreement with the United State Department of Agriculture (USDA), the National Rural Health Association (NRHA) provides several types of assistance to rural hospitals selected in collaboration with USDA. Technical Assistance services will be provided under contract with NRHA by selected contractors who specialize in the types of services outlined below.

Process and Criteria

Through NRHA, USDA will provide selected rural hospitals with TA services to identify and address health care needs and strengthen the local health care system.

The goal is to:

  • Enhance hospital systems for improved efficiency and financial performance,
  • Bolster quality of care, and
  • Support the community.

Prior to selection, hospitals will be interviewed by NRHA and complete an initial assessment to identify TA services needed. The total number of projects will be limited by cooperative agreement funding.

Project Goals

Possible project goals may include:

  1. Improving financial position and increasing operational efficiencies
  2. Implementing quality improvements that support an evidenced-based culture for improved health outcomes.
  3. Increasing use of telehealth to fill service gaps and improve access to care.
  4. Strengthening the local health care delivery system to position for population health.
  5. Providing hospital board training through NRHA’s certification program.

For more information and to see if your hospital qualifies, or to refer a hospital that would benefit from technical assistance, fill out the referral form and NRHA staff will follow up.

Contact Mory Bell, mbell@ruralhealth.us for more information and assistance.

Click Here to Access Referral Form

NRHA Webinar: How Critical Access Hospitals Like Grand River Health are Overcoming Staffing and Compliance Challenges with DCM Outsourcing, February 25

February 7, 2025

NRHA Webinar: How Critical Access Hospitals Like Grand River Health are Overcoming Staffing and Compliance Challenges with DCM Outsourcing, February 25

Weighing the impact of recruiting qualified talent and managing the cost of training and retaining resources, Grand River Health leaned on their Partners to guide their exciting transformation.

Grand River Health Controller, Theresa Wagenman, and industry expert Melissa Burris will share insights on overcoming these challenges, achieving compliance, and improving financial sustainability.

Join this webinar to explore how outsourcing their Charge Description Master (CDM) process provided a sustainable solution.

This session is perfect for rural healthcare leaders and financial professionals looking to enhance compliance, efficiency, and financial health through sustainable CDM practices.

Cost: Free

When: Tuesday, February 25, 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Click Here to Register

NRHA Webinar: Swing Bed Culture and Attention to Wellness Vital to Rural Healthcare, A Transitional Care Model, February 20

February 7, 2025

NRHA Webinar: Swing Bed Culture and Attention to Wellness Vital to Rural Healthcare, A Transitional Care Model, February 20

Join this webinar to learn how over 100 Critical Access Hospitals both independent and not, have cared for over 17,000 patients representing more than 244,000 swing bed days.

These 100+ facilities saw an average growth in swing bed days of 47% by the second year.

  • 65% of patients were categorized as complex medical or complex surgical which is a growing patient population.
  • Only 7% of Transitional Care patients were discharged directly back to acute care during a program stay of less than 30 days.
  • 77% of patients were discharged from Transitional Care back to independence.
  • The average patient rating was 4.83 out of 5 when asked if patients would “recommend the program to others”.

Cost: Free

When: Thursday, February 20, 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Click Here to Register

New JRH Brief Report: “Everything cannot be handled virtually”

February 7, 2025

New JRH Brief Report: “Everything cannot be handled virtually”

This qualitative study assessed internet access and use, barriers, and facilitators to participating in digital health interventions or programs, and the engagement experience in virtual versus in-person health interventions among rural adults and rural cancer survivors.

Conclusions

Findings from this qualitative study provide an in-depth understanding of the intricate experiences of rural adults and rural cancer survivors when engaging with digital health technologies.

Integrating the experiences of rural adults and rural cancer survivors may aid in developing clinical and community-based interventions and policies that support increasing access to digital health services and programs for rural communities.

Click Here to read full report

New JRH Article on Digital Health Technology

February 7, 2025

New JRH Article on Digital Health Technology

The National Journal of Rural Health (JRH) recently published a new article on Medicare telehealth utilization by Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) prior to and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Click Here to Read full article

Why Travel Time is Better Indicator of Access than Zip Codes

February 5, 2025

Why Travel Time is Better Indicator of Access than Zip Codes

Patients who travel longer distances to emergency facilities are more likely to present with more severe medical conditions, highlighting travel time as a key indicator of health care access. Additionally, health care leaders look a how organizations can use social determinants of health to reduce disparities in underserved communities.

Click Here to Read “Travel time is better indicator of access than ZIP codes, study suggests”.

Click Here to Read “Reducing Disparities and Promoting Health Equity in Underserved Communities with Social Determinants of Health”.

NRHA Webinar: How Critical Access Hospitals like Grand River Health are Overcoming Staffing and Compliance challenges with CDM Outsourcing, February 25

February 5, 2025

NRHA Webinar: How Critical Access Hospitals like Grand River Health are Overcoming Staffing and Compliance challenges with CDM Outsourcing, February 25

Grand River Health, a Critical Access Hospital with two Rural health Clinics and one Long-Term Care Center, recognized an opportunity in the changes they faced when their tenured CDM expert retired.

Weighing the impact of recruiting qualified talent and managing the cost of training and retaining resources, Grand River Health leaned on their partners to guide their exciting transformation.

Join this webinar to explore how outsourcing their Charge Description Master (CDM) process provided a sustainable solution. Hear from Grand River Health Controller, Theresa Wagenman, and industry expert Melissa Burris as they share insights on overcoming these challenges, achieving compliance, and improving financial sustainability. Discover the tangible benefits of proactive CDM management through expert led strategies and innovative technology.

This session is perfect for rural healthcare leaders and financial professionals looking to enhance comp0liance, efficiency, and financial health through sustainable CDM practices.

Cost: Free

When: Tuesday, February 25, 1:00 – 2:00 p.m.

Click Here to Register

New JRH Articles on Physical Therapy Utilization and More

February 5, 2025

New JRH Articles on Physical Therapy Utilization and More

The National Rural Health Association’s (NRHA’s) Journal of Rural Health (JRH) published articles on the following topics:

These are the Top 5 Policies to Transform Rural Health

February 5, 2025

These are the Top 5 Policies to Transform Rural Health

As a new administration takes the reins in Washington, the National Rural Health Association (NRHA) is mobilizing to work with policymakers to implement transformative policy changes to improve rural health care and other hospital leaders are also expressing their concerns.

Top 5 Policies to Transform Rural Health

  • Reduce regulator burden on small rural providers.
  • Secure key rural health care programs.
  • Make Medicare Advantage work for rural health care.
  • Stop implementation of payment policies harmful to rural providers.
  • Sustain rural health care infrastructure.

NRHA CEO Alan Morgan has released a statement as a rebuttal to the troublesome findings in a recent OIC report on CAH swing bed reimbursement. We can address the needs of rural communities and their hospitals through direct advocacy.

Click Here to Read “The top 5 policies to transform rural health”.

Click Here to Read “What hospitals want from Donald Trump and the new Congress”.

Click Here to Read “NRHA statement on OIG swing bed report”.

Click Here to Read “Cut swing-bed pay rates to match skilled nursing reimbursement and save billions, OIG tells CMS”.

NRHA Webinar: How to Secure Funding for Digital Health: Federal Grants and Telehealth for Rural Hospitals, January 29

January 22, 2025

NRHA Webinar: How to Secure Funding for Digital Health: Federal Grants and Telehealth for Rural Hospitals, January 29

Securing federal grants is critical for rural hospitals to implement and sustain telehealth programs. This session offers practical strategies to access funding and make telehealth a long-term solution for your community.

Angela Connor, a grant expert with a proven track record of helping rural hospitals secure millions in federal funding, will share actionable insights on navigating the complex grant process. Her work has directly supported hospitals in expanding telehealth programs and improving access to care in underserved communities.

Dr. Anisha Mathur, a telehealth leader with extensive experience working in critical access hospitals, will discuss how rural facilities can use virtual care to deliver high quality, specialty services while keeping patients local. Her real-world examples highlight what’s possible when funding aligns with a strong telehealth strategy.

Attendees will learn:

  • Which federal grants are available to rural hospitals right now,
  • Step-by-step guidance to create compelling applications that win funding,
  • Real-world examples of grant-funded telehealth programs that improve outcomes and sustain local care.

This session equips rural healthcare leaders with actionable tools to secure financial support and enhance care delivery for their communities.

Cost: Free

When: Wednesday, January 29, 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. CT

Click Here to Register